Matt Smith promises a major Daemon pivot in House of the Dragon season 3 after a season of isolation

Season 3 of House of the Dragon looks like it is done with foreplay. Faster, messier, and starting with a major swing: we are heading straight into the Battle of the Gullet. And yes, Daemon is finally stepping out of his haunted-house sabbatical at Harrenhal and back into the fight.

Daemon shakes off the Harrenhal fog

Matt Smith told ScreenRant's Liam Crowley that Daemon gets back to doing the thing he does best this season: acting instead of brooding. After spending most of Season 2 stuck in visions and talking to, among other things, goats, he is reunited with the larger cast and back in the thick of it. Smith sounded genuinely relieved to be out of solitary confinement.

"I think both character and actor were sort of happy to be back on home turf."

"And for me as an actor, it was nice to be able to get to come back and interact with all the brilliant actors that I get to every day now. Thank the God, not just a random goat."

The trailers back that up: Daemon appears to be returning to King's Landing alongside Rhaenyra, which is a big shift from his Harrenhal head-trip last year. Expect more scenes with the ensemble and the ruthless, impulsive streak that made him pop in Season 1.

Opening with a war, not a warm-up

Unlike the first two seasons, which spent a lot of time laying track for the Dance, Season 3 is set to open with the Battle of the Gullet. If you know your Targaryen history, that fight is a pivot point for the entire war. Translation: we are skipping the drumroll and hitting the cymbals immediately.

There is also a circulating leak to file under "intriguing if true": a widely shared post claims Rhaena manages to claim Sheepstealer but does not fully master the dragon, and during the Gullet she torches Velaryon ships and nearly attacks Moondancer. Chaos, friendly fire, the whole deal. As always with leaks, keep your expectations flexible.

Early buzz says the pace is no joke

Critic Matt Neglia said he has seen the first two episodes and called them the show's best back-to-back chapters yet. He also suggested they feel like the Episodes 9 and 10 we did not get at the end of last season, which tracks with how abruptly Season 2 hit pause. If that read is right, Season 3 may feel like the immediate payoff to the buildup we just sat through.

High Valyrian 101: yes, you can study it

On a lighter note, Smith had no idea you can learn High Valyrian on Duolingo. His reaction:

"Is it?... Really?"

The cast got a kick out of that, and Phoebe Campbell chimed in to confirm the course is very real, taught by the app's owl mascot. If you want to flex some proper pronunciation before the war kicks off, you have homework.

What to expect this season

• Faster pace than Season 2, with fewer detours and more immediate conflict.
• Season opens with the Battle of the Gullet, a major turning point in Westerosi history.
• Daemon back in the action and interacting with the full cast again, more in line with Season 1.
• Trailers tease Daemon returning to King's Landing with Rhaenyra.
• Expect Daemon's trademark intensity and some brutal choices along the way.
• Rumor watch: Rhaena claims Sheepstealer but struggles to control the dragon, causing chaos during the Gullet. Grain of salt, but notable.

While we wait for the blood and dragons to start flying again, a rewatch of the first two seasons will not hurt. Or spend a few minutes with Duolingo so you can yell along in High Valyrian when the fire starts. Either way, Season 3 looks ready to move.